Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs include a homemade sauce with fresh red and green peppers and canned pineapple and take help from the frozen section for the meatballs. It’s a dinner that is quick and convenient and can stay warm and ready for whenever everyone gets home to eat.
I bought some frozen turkey meatballs the other day and wanted to come up with a new way to fix them and that’s how these Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs came to be. The point of this meal is to get it into the slow cooker as quickly as possible and then forget about it. That’s why I decided against homemade meatballs for this recipe. I have a couple of recipes for meatballs from scratch and if you are looking for one please continue to scroll to the bottom of this post to find them.
When I’ve never made something before there are a few tried and true places that I look first. One of them is America’s Test Kitchen. I found their version of sweet and sour sauce here as a topping for chicken. I altered it just a bit to add to my recipe – with frozen turkey meatballs from Trader Joe’s, fresh green and red peppers and canned pineapple. Served over white rice these slow cooker sweet and sour meatballs are a nutritious meal that can stay warm and ready for whenever everyone at your house gets home to eat. And around here that’s not usually at the same time for all four of us on most nights.
Tips for making Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs:
- Use your favorite frozen meatballs for this recipe – I like these turkey meatballs from Trader Joe’s
- Buy pineapple tidbits canned in pineapple juice (not heavy syrup) and use that pineapple juice as part of your sauce
- Use a 6-quart slow cooker (Crockpot) for this recipe like this one
- Cook the rice right before serving the meatballs
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Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs include a homemade sauce with fresh red and green peppers and canned pineapple and take help from the frozen section for the meatballs. It's a dinner that is quick and convenient and can stay warm and ready for whenever everyone gets home to eat.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice drained from the can of pineapple tidbits
- juice of one medium orange
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1 bag frozen turkey meatballs I used Trader Joe's brand
- 1 red pepper cut into strips
- 1 green pepper cut into strips
- 1 cup canned pineapple tidbits
Instructions
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Whisk together the pineapple juice, orange juice, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, salt, red pepper flakes and corn starch.
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Add the meatballs, red and green peppers and pineapple tidbits to the slow cooker. Pour the sweet and sour sauce over the meatballs.
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Cover and cook on LOW power for 6 hours.
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Serve the sweet and sour meatballs over rice.
More meatball recipes:
- Asian Maple Sausage Meatballs
- Pork Apple Meatballs with Hard Cider Gravy
- Shortcut Swedish Meatballs with Microwave Mashed Potatoes
Meredith says
What a delicious looking quick & easy dinner! My family would love these sweet and sour meatballs.
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Meredith!
Jennifer says
I could eat meatballs every day!! I love how simple and delicious these are!!
foodtasticmom says
Me too! Thank you
Kaitie says
My kids would love this! They would definitely be asking for more!
foodtasticmom says
Happy to hear this!
Emily says
I love the sound of this, such a different way to have meatballs!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Emily
Edyta at Innocent Delight says
This looks fantastic. SO easy and full of flavor. I will be making it soon.
foodtasticmom says
Thank you!
Pam Greer says
I love that you’ve made this healthier by using turkey meatballs and easier by using already prepared meatballs. America’s Test Kitchen is a go to for me too!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Pam!
Dana says
These look heavenly! I absolutely love the flavors here and love that they’re being served with a nice pile of rice.
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Dana
Patty K-P says
The perfect weeknight meal if you ask me 😀
foodtasticmom says
Yes! I agree!
Deepika says
This looks so delicious. A perfect weeknight family meal. My daughter will love it.
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Deepika!
Sarah says
I love slow cooker meals! I also love delicious meals…and this recipe looks to fit both categories!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks so much Sarah!
Julia says
I have a slow cooker option on my instant pot but never tried it. Looking at these meatballs I think I will pretty soon 🙂
foodtasticmom says
That’s so funny. I use my slow cooker all the time but my Instant Pot usually sits in its box. I forgot it had a slow cooking option. I really need to use it more!